Welcome to the Golden State. San Diego is a great area, but you need to prepare yourself for the price of housing. California housing I believe is the highest in the country, the price we pay for good weather and earthquakes. Good luck in your future plans
Oh the Blue Ridge mountains are my favorite vacation spot. We have driven Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway several times and always thought If I were ever to move it would be to somewhere in that area perhaps Roanoke or Asheville area. That would be a hard place to leave behind and certainly a big change in scenery and lifestlye but sounds like your happy about it so that is what matters. I not real thrilled about our upcoming trip to the San Diego and Palm Springs area this spring just because of the traffic and it is not where I wanted to take our spring vacation but I'm sure I will have some fun.
Cali has REAL mountains.. VA mountains are nice but no where near what the west side has to offer in terms of anything relating to mountains. (Only expection would be Deal's Gap and the Applation (sp?) trail.)